Brassiere



Nov. 13, 1934. B SNADER 1,980,767

BRAssIERE Filed Oct. 3, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l HOWARD B- ,5A/ADEQ @@WFMMW Nov. 13, 1934. H, B. sNADER 1,980,767

BRASS IRE Filed Oct. 3, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 gmc/1MM Ho WARD B. ,SNADEr Patented Nov. i3, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BRASSIRE Howard B. Snader, Reading, Pa.

Application October 3,

1 Claim.

This invention relates to apparel and it has for its object the provision of 'a brassire designed to uplift the.breasts at the base without any attempt at molding or conforming the contour of the breasts, so that the shape of the breasts assumes and maintains the natural softness and fullness of youth.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a brassire a relatively heavy or stiff elastic trunk encircling band at the lower part of a relatively sheer or flimsy body portion, the band clinging contractively to the body just below the breasts, and the firm upper edge of the band functioning as a ledge to uplift and support the breasts at the base only, in substantially a line contact, and to prevent the breasts slipping beneath the lower edge of the brassire, the body portion being formed at the front with cupped areas of such extent and depth as to contain the breasts without engaging them compressively and therefore, without in any sense modifying their contour.

A further object of the invention is to so construct and arrange the elastic band as to give the lower edge of the band when the brassire is on the figure, greater tension than the upper edge of the band so as to prevent it rolling upon itself.

Another object of the invention is to make the elastic band of open mesh webbing so as to give it a Ventilating function.

Other objects of the invention will appear as the following description of a preferred and practical embodiment thereof proceeds.

In the drawings which accompany and form a part of the following specification and throughout the several figures of which the same characters of reference have been employed to denote identical parts: y

Figures 1 and 2 are respectively, front and side elevations of a brassire embodying the principles of the present invention, displayed on a. figure;

Figure 3 is a side sectional view on an enlarged scale illustrating the nature of the support afforded by the relatively heavy or stiff elastic band,

Figure 4 is a front elevation of the brassire, laid at showing the deflecting of the front of the elastic band by the vertical adjustable feature; and

Figure 5 is a similar view showing a slightly modified form of the invention in which the elastic band is normally deflected by having its ends attached in the front, at an angle.

Referring now in detail to the several figures the numeral 1 represents in general, the brassire 1932, Serial N0. 636,069

which consists of a body portion 2 of relatively flimsy or sheer material, such for example, as silk or rayon, and to the lower end of which is attached a band 3 of elastic webbing adapted to encircle the trunk immediately below the breasts.

The elastic band is made of relatively heavy or stiff material, and is stretched in conforming to the contour of the body, clinging contractively thereto in a zone immediately beneath the breasts as indicated at 4 in Figures l and 2. The upper edge of the front part of the elastic band engages the lower parts of the breasts, at the base and uplifts them, improving the fullness as is indicated in Figure 2.

The body portion 2 is formed with cup-shaped areas of such extent and depth as to envelope the breasts without however, compressively engaging them, thus permitting the breasts freely to assume a natural and unrestrained position, giving them the appearance of the soft lines and fullness of youth.

This brassire distinguishes from known brassires in the fact that while it is old in the art to provide cup-shaped brassires for enveloping the breasts, these support the breasts, compressively molding and conforming the convex contour thereof, giving them an artificial and conventional fullness, while the present invention leaves the breasts entirely unrestrained except for the uplifting support applied solely in a line contact at the base of the breasts.

The brassire has shoulder straps 6, the function of which is not to apply the cup-shaped portions 5 compressively against the breasts, but merely to hold the brassire in place.

One of the defects of known brassires is the rolling up upon itself of the lower edge due to flexing of the body. This makes an unsightly ridge visible through the outer garments.

One of the features of the present invention by which this objection is avoided is in the construction of the elastic band 3 in such a manner that the lower edge thereof in front is of less length than the upper edge. In Figure 4, this is accomplished by drawing the elastic band upward into an arc by means of the draw string 10, which affects the vertical adjustment for fullness. The sides 8 and 9 of the band are thus deflected inwardly and the lower edge of the front of the band made normally shorter than the 105 upper edge. When the garment is worn, the sides 8 and 9 are stretched outwrrdly, drawing the deflected portion of the band down into a rectilinear position, and tensioning the lower edge of the band to a greater extent than its upper edge.

The terms front and back" refer to the portions deflned when the brassire is laid iiat as shown in Figures 4 and 5. The deection of the front portion of the band can be controlled by tightening or looseningthe draw string 10.

, In Figure 5, the front of the elastic band takes the form of an inverted V in the determining oi' which the vertical adjustment of the draw string 10 has played no part. The essential principle through which the lower edge of the front portion is stretched more than the upper edge, is the same, inasmuch as the lower edge in theposition of repose shown in the figure is shorter than the upper edge.

While any type of elastic webbing may be employed in carrying out the broad principles of this invention, it is preferred to use a rubber elastic webbing, woven, knitted or crocheted, with an open mesh which serves to ventilatie the surface of the body covered by the band. In view of the snug elastic engagement of the lower part of the brassire with the body, it is prevented from slipping upward over the breast particularly when the arm is lifted, as in athletic exercises and may be relied upon to maintain it's proper position through all the exigencies of use.l

What I claim is.:

Brassire comprising a sheer inelastic body portion freely enveloping the breasts and a relatively stif! band of elastic webbing fixed to the bottom edge of the body portion adapted to encircle the body of the wearer contractively in a zone beneath the breasts affording a rm line of support for the breasts solely at the base, leaving them otherwise free to assume a natural contour determined by said support, and the front of the band being deiiected upwardly toward the middle of the front, in the unworn garment, whereby when the band is distended by the body of the wearer, the lower edge will beA tensioned to a greater extent than the upper edge, to prevent rolls. 1

HOWARD B. SNADER. 

